Does anyone know?

Can someone help me? As some of you guys know, I also have a Ford E350 Diesel cube van, same like the gm's and the chevy's, so this could apply to these trucks as well....Anyways, I tried to turn the truck on to go to work, and it did not want to turn on, it cranks and cranks, but did not want to start....I also gave it a boost, battery is ok....This also means that the alternator and starter are ok as well......Now the thing is, I call this mechanic up, and explain my situation....he tells me to use some 'Quick start' on thetruck, even though it has glow plugs (diesel)....I sprayed some of it in, and went to turn it on, when BOOM, the darn thing exploded, the cap of the airfilter fly'ed off, it wasn't attached properly, but it cracked into 2 pieces, and the 2 air filters caught fire.....I very quickly garbbed the filters and the fire dissappeared.....So now my question is.....What kind of damage could I have done, if any? Tommorrow the new air filters, and cap for the box will arrive, is there any precautions I should do before trying to crank the engine again....what could be wrong, someone please help....it would really suck to have to fork over a couple thousand for something so stupid......anyone....?

I´m thinking gaskets, check for oil leaks all around the seals between the block and the head when your start it, check to see if water got in the oil, I saw this happen many times with gas engines that had very crappy propane conversions on them and the explosion occurs the same way you described it. Then again maybe you were lucky the air filter cap was loose and let all the pressure out before doing any damage, next time listen to that little voice inside your head that´s saying "for the love of God, STOP!" Good luck!

as being a diesel mechanic i have just giggle, i have seen this happen before. never use quick start on diesel pick ups unless you disconnect the glow plug relay. the glow plugs ignited the quick start and the explosion took the easiest route out which was you air intake system. i bet it scared the sh@t out of you. any ways you have probably blown the tips off of some of the glow plugs and i would pull the intake off and check the fins in the turbo to make sure they haven't been damaged. you can use an ohmeter to check the glow plugs, if there is no resistance then it is shot. check all of them, it might have been your starting problem in the begining. if the ford has a couple of bad glow plugs you will have a very hard time getting them to start.

i think the first thing i would do is kick that "mechanics" ass, and take the cost of any repairs needed due to his expertise out of his ass too.

stupid, stupid mistake....I was thinking of kicking the mechanics ass, but then the the word 'jail' got to me.....Just to give you guys an update.....I asked a couple different mechanics (in the ford dealerships,) and they told me that there are a lot of people that have done this stupid thing.....And it is common.....I spent all day looking for a new air box....The guy at the dealership told me he would order it for me, and it should be there by the morning....I came to the dealership, and a different guy told me nothing was ordered...So he placed a order for 'emergency' parts....and told me it should be here by 3:00......I went at 3:00 and a differnet guy, tells me it's back ordered, and it willl be here by monday.....now I was kinda pissed, but he was nice and checked other dealerships for me and found one about 100 kilometres away....Unfortunately, I drove there...picked it up...and installed it...and the truck runs ok........I guess I will have to throw that can of quick start into the garbage.....total cost of distruction.....Air box= $350.00....2 Air Filters = $50.00 (yes, there is 2 and they are the cheapest I could find) and $100 for a tow.....I was parked in a spot where you are not allowed to park between 4 and 6 oclock....the dawm cop did not let me stay, so I had to pay to have it towed 100 meters down the road, for a cost of 100 big ones.....Oh, yah...the shit scared the crap out of me.....I thought a nuclear bomb exploded....there was a small kid standing on the road with his mom, he was like 5 years old, and his mom was explaining to me what I was doing...when bomb....sorry to say the kid ran....far, far away....along with his mom....

Save a little...spend a lot. Diesels are pricey. I don't know what a replacement is worth today but when I was working the garage, a Ford diesel in an F-250 4x4 application was $14,000 and that was for a re-built unit. Looking a new vehicle prices on GM trucks it seems there is a $20,000 some premium for the diesel option. What little one saves by avoiding a dealer, you end up paying more in the end. I'm not pushing dealers but when it comes to todays sophisticated and pricey parts and labor rates what choice does one have.